Clutch



June 30, 1931.

s. M. n. MILLER CLUTCH Filed NOV. 17, 1930 2- Sheets-Sheet 1 gwwntoz 5074/49/27. ZUW z:

June 30, 1931. s. M. D; MILLER 1,812,163

CLUTCH Fi led Nov. 17, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W rd 5271/2/77]. B 777///e7; W

If g w Substitute in application seri lno. 28,343,

topay the finalfeer'. r a e In the operation of clutches Where mean-1 Patented June 30, 1931 I i Q1,812,163v v 1 sAMt'rnn M, imitri 133, on nnrnoir; 'nI oH eAN f onu'ron The present application is substitute for applicatiom Serial N0. 28,343, wh ch application was forfeited May 3, 1929for failure bers are bro u ght] into frictional contact for' transmitting power and motion: fromjone to Y the other,.and in motor vehicle constructions \vhere a clutch isemployed to connect the en 'gine or other source of power with anddis-' connect it from the driving mechanism ofthe vehicle, it is particularly desirable that the,

driving force or power he appliedgradually to thedriven member by the-driving--memher in order to preventrfgrabbing or sudden full'frictional engagementof the elutchmembers; and it is an object of the present inven-' tion to provide simple and efficient means for the purpose, whichmeans may be embodied in or applied topresentclutch constructions.- Itis also an object to increase the ease and facility withwhich clutches. as embodied in motor vehicle constructions, may be operated andto providean attachment 'for the purpose which maybe quicklyand easily applied toclutch' operating mechanism as commonly constructed and arranged in connection with motor vehicles. 3 J I With the above and other ends in view, the

- invention consists, broadly, in arranging ,a; .yielding resistance to act in opposition to the force or springvwhich acts-tobringvthe clutch members into frictional engagement, and an operating power member to aCtfQSIlGCQSSlYGlY in opposition to said resistance and; spring, 7 whereby in jdisengaging theclutch, saidyield ingyresistance; is first applied to reduce the force oii'then ain spring, and in re-engaging the'Clutch, to -oppose the force of the main spring and give gradual application, of; the;

spring in bringing the clutch membersinto full frictional contact.- .;,'llhe invention further consists in othernew and useful features and in the matters hereinafter set forth-sand;

more particularly pointed foutj iin the ape pended claims, reference -being to accompanying drawings, vin which Figure 1: isan-end. elevation of one form of -clutch,showing the' application of means the e bodying epresenti w nti n, h re eanv;

.vention thereto; 1

filed May 6,1925. rins application filed nbire mberiizissofl Serials-No. 496,319.

the clutch in 1, ShowiU Pfirts of the-mechanism in elevation to more clearly,

Y illustrate therapplication of' the presentin 3i, V -.Fig, 3 is a sectional detail- ;substant1a1 ly upon the line -3 "3o,f;Fi g.f2; 1 I Fig',,il isa view of another: form of clutch, showing'the same' 'partly insection and partly in elevation and illustrating L-the, application f Fig. 2 natal; banana i Saar of of means embodying the present invention, to the operating foot. pedal of the clutch; and

Fig 5 a sectional detail substantially upon the line 5r5-of Figfl, a, g I The presentinvention ma be'embodied'in the clutch as apart of theclutchoperatingf mechanism, asshOWn in Figs 1 to 3f inclusive i or ,it may applied to the -operating} foot lever ofrthe clutch asjillustrated inFigs. 4

and 5. Theparticular clutch construction to? "I.

whichv thepresent {invention .isv applied,

illustrated inFigsi 1 a) 3 ma n -is Shaw and described Letters PatentNo, 1,279,; '136 of Sept, 17, 1918, said clutch construe; tiQn being merely illt lstrative of one form to,

which thepresent invention maylbe applied,

shown in Figs- 4: and'5, but itwillbeunder; stood that the present inventionj ma y heap-I plied with equal facility and efficiency to other a another application, of the invention being constructions of 'friction clutcha,operating mechanism.

id t us ra ua l arpl i't e ve lte e driving wheels of, the vehicle; Where the.

usualscluteh. operating n; eflchanismVis em; 9,

ployed, which mechanismincludes a veiivjstifi i 7 spring or;spr1ngs.' for forc ng the frictlon members 1n-to 'fIlCtlQDfll contact, sald' mecha-i,

nism cannot be operated infamannerto per-j It has been found where;aQfriction clutoh I is embodiedin; motor vehicle driving ama-- nism for connecting theengine or other, sourceof power and themotionitran smitting mechanism for transmitting j power to the vin rwhee s of t Y ,"th t. t very" vdiffioultto manipulatetheusual clutch q' er; ating mechanism sueh amanne gthat the a c fr di n,m be sof thQ l t JQW H c broughtgradually into frictional contact m tthei resi al; i -else???eti w iietthis spring or springs, and as a result, the friction members are brought too suddenly into frictional contact, causing what is known as grabbing and a sudden application of power to the driving wheels and a jerking motion which is not only unpleasant to the occupants of the vehicle but also subjects the vehicle to heavy strains. Motor vehicle clutches are usually operated by means of a foot pedal, the arc of movement of which is necessarily limited and this foot pedal is usually in direct connection with the clutch operating mechanism and acts directly upon the main spring or springs which put the friction members into frictional .COIItZLCt. Therefore, the power applied by the foot of the operator to the foot pedal, is applied through certain leverages: to compress the main spring or springs and the travel or are of movement of the foot pedal is in direct proportion to the travel of the main spring or springs, or the distance to which they are compressed, and it is therefore very diificult, particularly in certain clutch constructions to regulate by means of the foot, the movement of the foo-t pedal with sufficient accuracy to gradually apply the power of the main spring uring the movement of the clutch members to engaged position.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, 1 indicates the driving member of the clutch which driving membercarries a disk 2 and a master ring 3, between which disk and ring is interposed a driven member or disk 1, which is connected to the driven shaft 5 to turn therewith. The mechanism for moving the master ring 3 toward the disk 2 and thus frictionally clamping the driven disk 4 therebetween, comprises a series of levers 6 which are pivotally attached at 7, to the master ring 3 and engaged at their outer ends beyond the pivots 7, collars 8 on studs 9 which are rigidly secured tothe disk 2 and extend freely through openings in ears 10 on the master ring. These levers are turned upon their pivotal supports to force the master ring toward. the disk, by coiled springs: 11 which form the main springs for operating the levers and holding the frictioi'i members of the. clutch in frictional engagement. These springs 11 are carried by suitable brackets 12- rigidl secured to the master ring 3 with one end 0' each spring attached to its bracket and the opposite end 13 resting upon an offset end portion14 of each lever 6. r

A sleeve 15 is provided upon the shaft 5 to slide longitudinally thereon and this sleeve carries brackets 16 havingenlarged openings 17' therein to receive pins 18 projecting laterally fYQl'Ill the ends of the levers 6. The end 13 of'each coiled spring 11 engages the offset portion 14 of this lever at one side, and a coiled spring 19 engages this offset at the other side, these coiled springs 19 being interposed between the offsets 14, and laterally extending portions on the brackets 16. The sleeve 15 carrying the brackets 16 is limited in its movement toward the clutch, by the side of the openings 17 in the brackets coming into engagement with the studs 18 and the springs 19 are normally under compression between theonds of the levers 6 and brackets 16 and exert a force against the levers which holds the sleeve moved with the studs 18 in contact with the ends of the openings 17 in the brackets 16.

To relieve the friction members of the clutch from the force applied thereto through the levers 6 by the springs, 11, and thus release the clutch to disconnect the driving from the driven member thereof, a lever 21 which is indicated by dotted lines and may be in the form of a foot pedal, is pivotally supported in the usual manner adjacent the sleeve 15 and has the usual fork 22 to engage a collar 23 on the sleeve and move the sleeve endwise on the shaft 5 against the action of the springs 11. The forward movement of the pedal 21 causes a rearward movement of the sleeve 15 and as this sleeve carries the brackets 16 they will move with the sleeve, first compressing the springs 19 which are interposed between the offset portions 20 of the brackets and the ends of the levers 6, the force of these springs acting in opposition to the force of the springs 11. lVhen these springs 19 have been compressed a certain distance, the studs 18 on the levers 6 will come into engagement with the inner or opposite sides of the openings 17 in the brackets and further movement of these brackets by further movement of the sleeve 15 will positively move the ends of the leversG against the action of thesprings 11, thus turning the levers upon their pivots 7 and releasing the clutch.

In re-engaging the clutch, as the operator gradually removes the pressure of his foot from the pedal 21, the springs 11 act through the studs 18 to move the sleeve 15 but this force exerted by the springs 11 is opposed by the force of the coiled springs 19 which are of less strength than the strength of the springs 11 and toward the end of the re-engaging movement of the foot pedal the expansion of the springs 19 takes place and their opposing force is gradually removed from the main springs 11, allowing these springs to come into full action, exerting their full force upon the ends of the levers 6 to move the friction members of the clutch into full frictional contact.

It will thus be seen that an initial movement is provided for the foot pedal 21, which movement serves to compress the springs 19 and apply the force of this compression in opposition to the action of the main springs 11. After such compression has been applied, the main springs are then positively compressed through the engagement of the studs 18' with the sides of the openings 17' opposite that with which theyare normally in contact, and thereafter the-force applied by the operators foot is applied directly to the main springs to compress or contractthese springs and effect the. disengagement of the friction members of the clutch. 'Uponopposite movement'of the footpedal, or as the operator gradually removes the pressure of his foot therefrom, this pressure is gradually removed from the main springs until the foot pressure is suflic ient only to hold the auxiliary springs 19 compressed With: these auxiliary springsacting in Opposition to'the force of the main springs. The clutch members are at this point, however, not fully engaged, and further removal of the foot pressure will permit the auxiliary springs to expand and thus gradually apply the force of arrangement of theauxiliary springs in 0ppositlon to the main spring or springs which retardsv the action of the main springs and prevents the grabbing of the clutch.

InFigs. at and 5 the applicationxof the in-- vention to a simple form of cone clutchis illustrated, said clutch comprising a driving cup member 24, a cooperating friction cone 25 slidable longitudinally of a driven shaft 26 and operatively connected thereto toturn therewith, said conebeing urged into frictional contact with the driving cup member by a coiled spring'27 sleeved upon the shaft 26 between the end of a sleeve'portion of the cone and an abutment 28. The. clutch is operated by means of a foot pedal 29 pivotally supported at 80 and the device embodying the present inventionis applied to this foot pedal. In adapting the present invention to the cone clutch above described, the .foot' pedal 29 is mounted to'turnireely upon its pivotalsupport or shaft 30' and seoured'to this" shaft 30 to turn therewith is an, arm 31 adapted to engage atit's free end, aicollar 32 on the end of the sleeve'33 which is a part jof'the cone 25, and a second arm 34: also secured to' theshaft 30 toturn therewithextends up wardly adjacent the foot pedal 29 and has a segmental endportion 35 provided with: a segmental slot 36. A yoke member 37 is secured adjustably to the segmental arm 34by means of a bolt 38 passing through said segmental slot, and this yoke is formed to embrace the foot pedal 29, it having an arm 39 extending across the forward side of the pedal lever and provided with a screwthreaded opening to receive a stop screw 40 This gradual expansion of the to-en a e the ararssue-0 1': the pedal'glever and limit its movement between sneer-0p and 'spri'ngpressed plungers 41 mounted in bores' provided the yoke member '37 in the side 7 thereof oppositethe stop 40, said'plungers'bey ilig proj ected I out of their bores into contact.

' with the side of the pedal lever, jby springs' 42in the bores" interposed "between th innen I ends of the plungers "and tension adjusting screws 43 threaded into'fthe closed-ends "of the boxes and serving to'adjustthe tension v of said spring and the force with which plungers will engage the pedal lever. 11 r The parts being inposition showninfFig. J A with the clutch menibers'24 and 25 in frictional contact, the clutchis foperatedto engage said'members byipressi'ng forwardly upon the foot pedal-129 As the combined resistance or force of the springs 42 is lessv than that of the main spring 27, these-springs will be compressed, the pedal lever turning on its pivot shaft sac-away from the 'stop '40 and forcing the plungers 41f inwardly against the actionof said spring'sf42,"but;assaid? Q springs 42-{are-carried by "the yoke 37 which" i's rigidly attached to -the arm 34, which annis, in turn, secured to the shaft 3Q having the, r gidly attached arm *31"pre'ssingupon, the collar 32 in a direction opposite to the action o'ffthe 'mainfspring' 27 the force of said main spring is o'ppos'edor educedam v amount equal 'to the "force required to com? press the springs "42, ,or in otlier Iw'or'ds", the

forcfeipfpheauxiliarys rings- 42is brought 2 into L opposition' tofthe force 'offithe main spring '27; -Further j forward 7 ;movement of the pedal lever ee'brifigs it into contact with the yoke 87 ther plungers- 1 being fullyi' depressed, and thereafter the; force.

applied tothepfooti pedal is transmitted directly to the collar 32 tfomovethe pne or [driven member of the elutc hj away from the driving member againstthe action fo ffthe 5 mainspring; Preferably the tension Of thj auxiliary springs 42 will be-s'o proportioned r v n the for e o t e mai sprin -.27; that theforce ofthe main iiiholding the clutch members engaged beconsidf erablyreducednand maywbe such-asto cause.

meansof the adjustingfscrews48. .7

i To bringythe clutch-members 24. r p

into re engagement the operator will gradually remove the pressure of hisfoot upon the foot pedal, allowing the main spring- 27 to expandand move the clutch member 25 toward the clutch member 24, but the auxiliary springs 42 are still inactive opposition to the main .spring t'o retard the final full engagement of the clutch members, this full 1 {eng'agementjnot taking place until the auxiliary springs have been permitted by the pedal levertoexpand and said lever has come into its a c a i 11 5i sllppagebetween :the',clutch .members, and] I this 7 relative tension may ;b,e adjustedf contact with the stop 40, which stop is also adjustable to adjust this retardation.

It is obvious, therefore, that in the embodiment of the invention as shown in Figs.

4 and 5, the application of the full force to e qq bring the clutch members into full frictional engagement is retarded by the auxiliary springs in the same manner as in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3, and it is also obvione that the present invention may be embodied in or applied to other clutch constructions and the operating mechanism therefor, and the construction and arrange ment modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is 1. In combination with a clutch including a driving member, a driven shaft, friction members adapted to be brought into frictional contact to transmit motion from said driving member to said driven shaft, and operating means including a member slidable upon the shaft longitudinally thereof, and amain spring for moving said sliding member in one direction to normally hold the friction members in frictional contact; of a lever engaging the slidable member and having a limited movement relative thereto, an auxiliary spring interposed; between said lever and slidable member to be compressed by said relative movement, and an operating lever for moving said slidable member against the action of said main spring to move said slid-' able member to first compress said auxiliary spring during such limited relative movement of said members and then to oppose the force of said main spring.

2. In combination with a clutch including relatively movable friction members adapted to be brought into frictional contact to transmit motion from one to the other, and a main spring for normally holding said friction members in frictional contact; of a lever pivotally supported adjacent said main spring and having an arm to oppose said main spring and an end portion to move one of said friction members, an operating lever, means operated by said operating lever to move said lever member, and a spring car ried by said means to oppose the action of said main spring.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

SAMUEL M. D. MILLER. 

